Expensive health care that doesn’t cover anything. Jobs with low pay and lousy benefits. Crippling student debt. Rampant corruption and indecency in the Republican Party. A deteriorating civil society and changing climate in which our children’s and grandchildren’s future is increasingly bleak – that’s what the D.C. Republicans and weak Democrats have inflicted on us.
Yet most of the news coverage and daily conversation is about fringe issues that affect very few people. Some trans kid … [Read More...] about Why I’m Running

About Me (long read)

My political resume is not long, but it is illustrative. I have effectively fought government corruption and wasteful spending. I found ways to actually make money for the taxpayer. I was able to work effectively, and respectfully, with Republicans, members of law enforcement, the courts, and community groups of all kinds. I am not a typical politician – and certainly don't want to be (ugh) – but I got things done.
As an elected member of the Black Township Trustee Board, I played a key role in stopping an illegal, ineffective, and financially irresponsible drug testing operation that caused great harm to those it was intended to help. I also played a key role in exposing embezzlement and other criminal wrongdoing by the Trustee, who was directing money meant for Fire and Rescue and help the poor to herself and her relatives. I worked both with, and against, the Republicans on … [Read More...] about About Me (long read)

The Future Cometh…

We live in a time of rapid technological change that is devastating old industries and opening up great opportunities for new. Across many fields, including farm fields, we're in a time reminiscent of when the Ford Model T destroyed the horse buggy industry.
Republicans and weak Democrats want to subsidize the horse buggy industry where all the good jobs have been, and do whatever they can to keep out the newfangled car industry, which is where all the good jobs will be. It's a very short-sighted way of looking at it, and will result in a lot of pain for workers and businesses in Southwestern Indiana.
I know what I'm talking about because I worked in one of the horse buggy-like … [Read More...] about Should we save the Horse Buggy Factory? Or bet on the Model T?

This Idiot has got to go

This idiot even more so

Coronavirus in Indiana – Weekly Update

228 Hoosiers died from Coronavirus last week, down slightly from 247 the previous week. A lot of people were out last weekend, and judging from what I saw, the floodgates opened this weekend, so the next two to three weeks should give us a clue as to what the future holds.

New positive cases, however, were way up. from 19,993 to 27,778, or by 7845. The previous week new cases were up by only 4032.

I focus on the increase in deaths because that is a much more real and verifiable number. It’s likely new cases when way up this week while deaths were slightly down was due to more testing. My wife and I, for example, both got tested last week. I’m sure a lot of people are getting tested now that it’s much more widely available.

The reason the testing numbers are important is that many businesses, particularly the larger businesses, are tying their re-opening plans to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) re-opening guidelines, which are largely based on decreasing new cases. If that is the case, increasing testing works against re-opening, for no good reasons. Until testing is much more widespread among asymptomatic people, the criteria really should be based more on deaths to get an accurate sense of whether the spread is increasing or decreasing.

Like I said above, the next three weeks or so will tell us a lot. If the medical and scientific experts are right and the national Republicans and anti-American propagandists are wrong, we will likely see increases in both new cases and deaths. Personally, these are the guidelines I am following. I urge you to click on that link, read it, and then follow them as well. The longer we as individuals can go without getting sick, the more likely better treatments, or even a vaccine (if we can avoid it for another year or two), will be available.

Featured Stories

Larry Bucshon’s dishonest response to the Coronavirus demonstrates how little he cares about the people of Southwestern Indiana. It is perhaps the most horrendous example yet of how he puts subservience to right wing ideology and Donald Trump before the health and welfare of his constituents. In my book, spreading dangerous disinformation about the Coronavirus makes him guilty of medical malpractice (file a complaint here). I call on him to resign.

Bucshon says the risk of Coronavirus is low. The facts say otherwise. As our representative in Congress, Bucshon should be telling us the facts, and what we should be doing to protect ourselves and slow the spread of the disease. Instead, he is following the irresponsible leader, and putting all of our lives at risk, particularly those over 60.

Expensive health care that doesn’t cover anything. Jobs with low pay and lousy benefits. Crippling student debt. Rampant corruption and indecency in the Republican Party. A society and changing climate in which our children’s and grandchildren’s future is increasingly bleak – that’s what the Larry Bucshons of the world have inflicted on us. And they are not slowing down with their disastrous policy making. They are putting it into overdrive.

But don’t despair. It doesn’t have to be like this. We know it doesn’t have to be like this because it hasn’t always been like this. It used to be much better. It can be that way again. Or better still.

We can start by voting out the people who did this to us, and undo all the terrible things they have done.

Always remember these three important truths:

It hasn’t always been this way

Republicans like Larry Bucshon and weak Democrats in Washington have made it this way

Coronavirus is not a hoax, the legitimate media is not sensationalizing it, any statistics about the regular flu are irrelevant, and it is neither Christian nor conservative to spread misinformation about such a grave threat to human life and civilization.
As social distancing efforts progress from closing sporting events, amusement parks, and other large gatherings to schools and businesses to shutting down all but the most essential movements, people inclined to believe it's an … [Read More...] about Spreading misinformation about the Coronavirus is neither Christian nor Conservative

A Conversation with Republicans

Like just about everyone in Southwestern Indiana, I know many Republicans. My father is a Republican, my mother was independent, but usually voted Republican, including for Donald Trump. I've worked with many Republicans, both in local politics, law enforcement, the judiciary, and in business.
I know that the great majority are normal, decent people. You are not racists,. You are not haters. You don't hate women or men or anybody else. You are not okay with sexual assault. You are basically honest. You don't cheat people in your business dealings. You don't refuse to pay workers, contractors, and small businesses, and then sue them. You don't set up phony charities and take the money for yourself. You don't cheat at golf or other games. Like just about everyone, you are not perfectly … [Read More...] about A Conversation with Republicans